The hike to Wet Beaver Creek via Bell Trail is one of the best hikes in or near Sedona. Not only that, if you take my advice, it honestly becomes my favorite hike in Sedona. 90% of visitors who hike to The Crack don’t know there is some incredible beauty and springs the entire way leading up to it.
Bell Trail is hardly a great hike when compared to most of Sedona. It is exposed in the sun the entire way and there really isn’t a ton of great view points or picturesque moments until you get to the Crack.
It is a great trail run or even mountain bike the first 2.5 miles until you have to park the bike for the last mile. Click here for Our Sedona Bucket List: 14 Things You Must Do
However, 7 miles of walking on that path would rank outside the top 50 hikes in Sedona if it wasn’t for the payoff at the end. With that said, it jumps to arguably one of the best hikes if you know the secret! What is the best hike in Sedona? What is the secret as to why the hike to Wet Beaver Creek is arguably the best hike in Sedona? The answer… go off road!
Less than half a mile into the hike there is a turnoff where you can go up the hill to the Bell Trail overflow parking. At that point is the best place to turn down the hill and go to the creek. From there you can walk along, in, around and up the creek all the way to the crack, or even pop out up to the trail whenever it starts to get a little tough.
If you are able bodied enough, it is the BEST adventure to cross the creek multiple times and explore. You can actually do it the whole way without really getting wet. It is a little rough here and there but most of it is a path. You won’t be sure which way to go sometimes and that just adds to the fun.
Keep your eyes open as you may also not know there are a ton of crayfish under the rocks. In fact if you want to add to your adventure you can actually get a crayfish license and go fishing! These are the exact same as crawfish and can be cooked just like most shellfish and go great in pasta, rice, gravy and other southern dishes!
While the creek trail is amazing, that of course isn’t the main reason you started the journey is it? Of course The Crack is the real goal and it just makes this amazing adventure even better! Cliff jumping, little falls and exploring all around The Crack is an amazing way to spend the day!
Bring lunch, a few drinks and let all of your worries in the city go away. Enjoy the beautiful water, other people enjoying their time and try to unplug! The Crack itself is home to a ton of unique sites and swimming pools if you walk around it and explore.
Thank you Fraser for suggesting this gem for a perfect proposal spot! Lived in Az my whole life and never been there. Great hint to adventure off the trail and go up the creek line. All the views of Sedona with less people!
SO HAPPY FOR Y’ALL!!! Amazing and glad it went so well and is now such a memorable place!
Fraser! I just stumbled across this site when I looked up hiking to The Crack. Glad I found you brother. Good stuff here. I’m taking a group of high schoolers there this weekend and you gave me some good info. Hope you’re doing well.
Haha no way! Amazing! Yes, definitely go down the creek, WAY more fun than just a hot path the whole way. More of an adventure too, even if it is more difficult with footing etc.
This hike sounds absolutely amazing! I’ve always been drawn to hidden gems and secret oases, so Wet Beaver Creek and The Crack definitely pique my interest. It’s fascinating to learn that there’s so much beauty and springs along the way that most visitors are unaware of. Exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations like this adds an extra layer of adventure to any hiking experience. Thanks for sharing this insider tip! I’ll definitely keep it in mind for my next Sedona adventure. Have you encountered any other hidden treasures in the area.